NSBA’s National American Indian/Alaska Native Council (AIAN) presented its Luminous Eagle Award to the Ada City School District  from Oklahoma during its Annual Conference held March 30-April 1 in Philadelphia. In its inaugural year, the Luminous Eagle Award honors a district for their excellence in policies and practices that promote equitable conditions and improved academic outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native students.

The Ada City School District has made tremendous progress in ensuring that academic and extra-curricular programs are equitable for Native students through meaningful partnerships with tribal entities. The district participated in the implantation of grants from the Chickasaw Nation that work toward increasing the number of Native American students referred to services, improving college and career readiness and offering Native American cultural activities for students and families. The district also directed a United States Department of Education Demonstration Grant that included increasing the number of Native American students enrolling in STEM courses.

By participating in Tribal Consolations, the district strengthened communication with the Chickasaw Nation which helped facilitate new, equitable programing for Native American students. The district has also improved direct services and family involvement through the Johnson O’Malley and Title VI Parent Committees. These and other recent efforts by the Ada City School District go beyond equitable programming to provide Native American students with strong, meaningful opportunities for success.

“NSBA appreciates the leadership of AIAN in taking the lead on both realizing and responding to the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Students,” NSBA Chief Equity and Member Services Officer Verjeana Jacobs said. “We also acknowledge the commitment to student support and excellence for students demonstrated by the Ada School District.  Both are crucial in bringing life to NSBA’s work as a leader in public education.”

The Luminous Eagle Award is one of several NSBA-sponsored awards that recognizes schools that have prioritized educational equity. Learn about this year’s RISE Award and Abrazo Award. The awards are sponsored by McGraw-Hill Education, a learning science company that delivers personalized learning experiences that help students, parents, educations and professionals improve results.